Jerome’s fury was palpable, and for a moment, Aria thought he might actually strike her. But then, slowly, he stepped back, his expression cold and hard. “If you refuse this marriage, you will be exiled from the pack,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “You will lose everything—your family, your home, your birthright. You will be nothing.”
Aria’s heart pounded in her chest, but she refused to let her fear show. “If that’s what it takes, then so be it,” she said, her voice trembling with the intensity of her emotions. “I would rather be exiled than live a life of misery.”
Jerome’s eyes narrowed, and for a moment, he said nothing. Then, slowly, he nodded, his expression cold and unforgiving. “So be it,” he said, his voice like ice. “You have made your choice, Aria. And you will live wi
